The Dhanbad Railway Division (DRD) to install solar panels on the 50 km route of the upcoming 160 kmph section of New Delhi - Howrah route that falls under the division.

Division Railway Manager (DRM) Asish Bansal while talking to media persons on Monday evening said that once the route is upgraded the travel time between aforementioned would be possible in 12 hours.

The solar panels would help save electricity as would be made available to the division via existing grids, he added. He said the division now operates all its trains both goods and passengers by electrical locomotives this saves huge quantities of diesel as well as is also able to reduce  engine changing  time all across the division.

At same time all manned level crossing on these tracks would be closed  and subways or over bridges would replace them. This year 16 manned level crossing would be closed by providing a new facility, said the DRM.

Replying to a query the DRM said , the division is diversifying it's loading facilities by taking up loading of other minerals, red mud , paddy fky ash besides other to maintain its revenue.

The decision to diversify has been taken keeping in view the new policy of the government of not to take up construction of new thermal power plants in the country that would affect coal loading in coming future, said the DRM.

He also gave details of the upcoming projects of development of different stations and upgrading the ticketing system by providing booking ATMs at different stations having heavy passenger rush mainely at Dhanbad,Koderma , Daltonngunj and others.

Watering system of passenger trains  has been improved by installing a new watering system that can refill water in full rack trains within ten minutes, said DRM.

ADRM Asish Kumar and senior DCM AK Pandey were also present during that press conference.